Blog Archives

1918 – World War I
The patriotic Battle of Flowers and Red Cross parade to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto will start promptly at 4 o’clock this afternoon. The hour has been changed from 4:30 to 4 o’clock in order to enable the soldiers who take part to return to camp in time for mess, and military promptness will be observed in the movement.

1939
Mae West, in town for a one-week engagement at the Majestic Theatre, receives an invitation for “La Noche de Fiesta” from event chairman Atlee Ayers. The invitation is painted on a tortilla.

1944
Texas Governor Coke Stevenson speaks to a crowd of 10,000 for the annual Alamo Pilgrimage, saying , “Occasions like this make people realize more than ever the struggles and sacrifices necessary to achieve a great and purposeful aim such as a war for right and justice.”

1889The San Antonio City Brewery will shortly put on the market their excellent XXX Pearl beer. Orders are in already for the first output.

1918 – World War I
San Antonians had their first real opportunity to “size up” the soldiers of the Nineteenth Division when more than 20,000 Camp Travis men marched through the residential and business streets of the city this morning in a parade observance of Washington’s birthday.

1944
A San Antonian waited in line two hours at the Federal Building to pay his income tax but balked when a seaman attemped to fingerprint him and enlist him in the Navy. He was in the wrong line.

1917 – World War I
Saloons, clubs and wholesale liquor establishments located within the half mile radius of the arsenal, which were closed Tuesday afternoon by special agents of the bureau of investigation, will be allowed to reopen and continue business until further notice, according to a telegram from Washington received this morning by Judge J. L. Camp, United States district attorney.

1944The first international flight arrives at San Antonio Municipal Airport from Mexico on American Airlines.

1945
The Catholic church has purchased the old Southern Hotel block between the city hall and the courthouse for $75,000, owner Martin Wright announced today. Father J. L. Manning, chancellor of the archdiocese of San Antonio, confirmed the sale and suggested that the property might be considered as the site of a proposed rectory for San Fernando Cathedral in a postwar expansion program. A year ago the church purchased the two-story Witte building on the western side of the parking lot at a reported price of $40,000 from Joe Olivares of West Commerce Street.

1945
The San Antonio Public Library purchases a rare first edition King James Bible and other rare books with money donated by the estate of Harry Hertzberg.

1917 – World War I
Two of the army airplanes that left San Antonio this morning for a trip to Waco, reached here shortly before noon, while one was forced to descend
near Austin and another at Bartlett. After one of the machines had reached Waco and landed safely the second, driven by Capt. M. Kirby, of the United States aviation corps, was caught in an air current while preparing to land, about two hundred feet from the ground and his machine completely destroyed. Captain Kirby being badly shaken up, and a companion, Captain Ralph Fairchild, who was riding as a passenger, was rendered unconscious and taken to a local sanitarium.

1944
War bond pushers announced Gene Autry and Red Skelton as special guests at a $1,000-bond-a-plate dinner at the St. Anthony Hotel.

1963
A total of 61 percent of all business establishments signed pledges that they would voluntarily desegregate, according to a report of the City Council’s committee on desegregation.

1917 – World War I
Dallas leads all other cities of Texas in registrations under the selective draft law, according to complete figures from nine of the largest cities today. San Antonio was second and Houston third.

1944
The San Antonio Light reports that a “well-known Major General” has been demoted to Lt. Colonel for stating at a cocktail party in London, “On my honor, the invasion will begin no later than June 15.” This former General, Henry J. F. Miller, had commanded the San Antonio Air Depot at Duncan Field until 1941. He was demoted by General Eisenhower, a former classmate at West Point.

1978
Joske’s and KZ-100 radio sponsor a party at the Arneson River Theater for the new movie “Grease.” Producer Alan Carr and actor Jeff Conaway appear at the event. Olivia Newton-John (right) is scheduled to appear but is forced to cancel due to a 102-degree fever.

1917
A proclamation signed by Mayor Brown, County Judge Davis and President Franz C. Groos, of the Chamber of Commerce, is as follows: “In appreciation of the distinguished services rendered this republic by that great soldier and patriot, Major General Frederick Funston, and as an expression of the high esteem and love felt for him by citizens of every rank in San Antonio, we, the undersigned, call a memorial meeting in his honor, to be held at Beethoven Hall on Saturday. February 24 at 3 p.m. All citizens of San Antonio and members of the army are invited to participate.’’

1944
A San Antonian waited in line two hours at the Federal Building to pay his income tax but balked when a seaman attemped to fingerprint him and enlist him in the Navy. He was in the wrong line.

1926
The local Carnegie Library appealed to city residents to return long delinquent books.

1941
Owen Kilday becomes Bexar County Sheriff. He will be the longest serving sheriff of Bexar County – until 1962.

1944
The Randolph Field Ramblers, a team made up of former college athletes serving in the military, play the University of Texas to a 7-7 tie in the Cotton Bowl. This is the only San Antonio team to ever play in the Cotton Bowl and this was the first tie in the bowl game’s history. Only 15,000 spectators witnessed the game due to heavy rain.

1944
The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act, better known as the G. I. Bill of Rights, goes into effect today. According to M. R. Gill, supervisor for the San Antonio district of the Texas Unemployment Compensation Commission, the agency which is to administer the law, an initial claim load of 1,000 is anticipated in San Antonio.

1957
The Edsel goes on sale at Winerich Motors, 1820 Broadway. Despite Ford Motor Company’s investment of $400 million in the new car, it was such a flop that production ceased only two years later, on Nov. 19, 1959.

1902
J.A. Berry, foreman on the work at the Carnegie Library, celebrated arrival of his first-born son yesterday afternoon. When the quit work whistle blew, Berry assembled the workmen in the main buildings where a copious spread of beer and lunch was served.

1944
Plans to convert the four-story Halff building (right) at 336 E. Commerce into an African-American hotel were thwarted when nearby residents protested before the city zoning board today in City Hall. “I am [the] manager of the Cameo Theater, which has given the Negroes a modern theater and now I think our next step is to convert this vacant building into a clean, modern hotel. The Negroes have been pushed around and had to live in ‘dumps’ for years. The better class Negro is just as afraid to walk through the 400 and 500 block of East Commerce as the white folks are. We want it cleaned up.” said Pinkie Smith. (photo courtesy of UTSA digital collections)

1970
What was billed as the first Mexican-American-sponsored fund-raising event for a Republican in Texas history was held at the Gunter Hotel last night for U.S. Senate candidate George H. W. Bush.

Thursday, May 24, 2018, 1 – 1:45pm Low impact workouts are a great way to get active while reducing the risk of injury! Low Impact Circuit Training classes are easier on the body removing certain exercises that place more stress on the hip & knee joints; running/sprinting and jumping. The goal of each class is to provide a total body workout. Branch Loca […]

Thursday, May 24, 2018, 3:30 – 5pm [For ages 13 to 18 only] Come hang out to cure your boredom and make new friends (or see your old ones). Weekly activities vary, and it's up to you to help decide what we do.Join us as we play your pick from a variety of different video games! Branch Location: Tobin Library Address: 4134 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX […]

Thursday, May 24, 2018, 4 – 5pm Need help downloading eBooks to your tablet or phone? Sign up for a 30 minute one on-one-session and library staff will assist you in learning how to use your mobile device, tablet, or new laptop in conjunction with downloading digital content from SAPL such as eBooks, eAudiobooks, and movies. Bring your device and account inf […]